Finnestad Ancestry

I had posted this photo of the Finnestad family taken about 1870 in Norway and recently* located the original, which is slightly clearer than the one I posted in March 2010.  The correct positions are, based upon what was written on the back of the photo: Back row: Bert, Mary, Rasmus, Ole Jr, Bertha, Serina (Sarah) Front row: Rachel, Ole Sr, Mari and Elizabeth My original guess that the photo was taken just before Iverdine and Rachel left Stavanger in May 1871 and moved to the United States was based upon the copy I'd received from Trish Hodgens.      This photo was probably taken prior to the 1900 US Census, the last census before Rasmus appeared in the 1905 Iowa Census and Bert had moved to Saskatchewan in 1903.    This makes more sense than my original post as Bert would have been 10 and Rasmus would have been 8 in a photo taken in 1871.     Iverdine passed away November 3, 1879 prior to this photo.  Narr...

Here is a summary of the death certificate information for Ole and Mari Finnestad and their 11 children: Ole Finnestad Sr Mari (Iversdatter Nord Skaar) Finnestad Elizabeth (Finnestad) Knutson Sarah Finnestad Maria Olsdatter Iverdine (Finnestad) Travland Bertha (Finnestad) Haaland Rachel (Finnestad) Vallem Ole Finnestad Mary (Finnestad) Bell Bert Finnestad Rasmus Finnestad Barnel Finnestad Their burials can be found here .  The family trees can be found here.

Here is a summary of Ole and Mari Finnestad and their 11 children along with their final resting places: Ole Oleson Finnestad February 14, 1814 - November 22, 1906 Union Cemetery - Lee County, Illinois Mari Iversdatter Skaar Finnestad July 12, 1824 - November 1, 1905 Union Cemetery - Lee County, Illinois Elizabeth Olsdatter Finnestad Knutson April 10, 1844 - March 14, 1930 Lawnridge Cemetery - Rochelle, Illinois Sarah (Serina) Olsdatter Finnestad July 5, 1846 - August 21, 1923 Union Cemetery - Lee County, Illinois Maria Olsdatter March 7, 1848 - May 15, 1851 Fister , Norway Dana (Iverdine) Olsdatter Finnestad Travland December 2, 1850 - November 3, 1879 Union Cemetery - Lee County, Illinois Bertha Olsdatter Finnestad Haaland December 2, 1850 - April 29, 1929 Union Cemetery - Lee County, Illinois Rachel (Rakkel) Marie Olsdatter Finnestad Vallem December 2, 1853 - April 8, 1932 Lawnridge Cemetery - Rochelle, Illinois Ole Oleson Finnestad June 4, 1856 - July 7, 1928 Fairview Cemet...

Today I received some photos from a distant cousin, Trish Hodgens who descended from Iverdine Finnestad. Here is a photo of the family, taken in Norway sometime around 1870. Back row: Bert, Rachel, Rasmus, Ole Jr, Iverdine, Bertha (Iverdine's twin sister) Sitting: Mary, Parents Ole Sr and Mari, Serina (Sarah) I am 100% sure of Bert, Rasmus, Ole Jr since I compared to photos I had. I’m guessing on Rachel, Bertha, Mary and Serina, but based on their birth dates: Serina – 7/5/1846 Bertha and Iverdine – 12/2/1850 Rachel – 12/2/1853 Mary – 1/19/1859 I just had to figure out who I thought looked 4 years older, the same age as, 3 years younger and six years younger than Iverdine based upon the photo. Since Trish knew which were Iverdine, Ole Sr and Mari, I just needed to fill in the blanks. This is the first time I've seen a photo of my great great great grandparents, Ole and Mari and any of their daughters. Elizabeth had already married Ole Andreas Kn...